Frequently Asked Questions About Disasters

For disasters declared on or after March 22, 2024, FEMA can provide Serious Needs Assistance (SNA), an upfront payment that can be used to pay for food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies to eligible survivors.   

For eligible survivors, SNA is often approved quickly after you apply. It is NOT a loan and does not need to be paid back.  

Please note that there are other forms of assistance that you may qualify to receive once you apply for disaster assistance. As your application continues to be reviewed, you may still receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as support for temporary housing and home repair costs. 

To apply for assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. 

A boil water advisory (BWA) is a public health advisory issued by local or state health authorities when there is a concern that drinking water may be contaminated and unsafe to drink. During a boil water advisory, residents in defined locations are advised to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth to ensure it is safe for consumption.

Fahrenheit or higher for more than four hours. You should also throw away refrigerated food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.

Throw out perishable food in the refrigerator after four hours without power. A full freezer can keep food safe for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer can keep food safe for about 24 hours.

Be sure that the refrigerated food’s temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. To learn more about food safety, visit https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-and-water-safety-during-power-outages-and-floods

Alternative cooking sources can be used in times of emergency including candle warmers, chafing dishes, fondue pots or a fireplace.  Here are some safe cooking methods:

• Use a portable gas stove or grill outdoors only.
• Use a camping stove or other portable cooking devices outdoors only.

Remember to use stoves and grills outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows. 

Methods to avoid:

• Do not use charcoal grills indoors. They produce large amounts of carbon monoxide, which can result in death or serious illness.
• Do not use generators indoors or in enclosed spaces.  Generators also produce carbon monoxide.
• Do not use candles or open flames near flammable material.

To learn more about managing food without power, visit: https://www.ready.gov/food

For immediate needs, please call 211 and they can help identify state and local resources, as well as locations where people are donating life-sustaining supplies including food. 

For disasters declared on or after March 22, 2024, there is, for those who qualify, Serious Needs Assistance money to help you pay for immediate needs such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding equipment, diapers, personal hygiene items, and fuels for transportation. To apply for Serious Needs Assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

To stay warm during a power outage, prioritize layering clothing and using blankets. Start with a base layer, add insulation like fleece, and finish with a windproof outer layer. Wear a hat, gloves and warm socks. Use multiple blankets, tucking them in to trap heat. Additionally, close off unused rooms and block drafts with towels.

• Do NOT use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home due to the fire hazard.
• Do NOT use a grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area.

If safe, use fireplaces or portable heaters (with proper ventilation for generators).

You can return home after an evacuation when local officials have lifted the evacuation order and declared it safe to return.

Here’s why:

• Safety is important.  Evacuation orders are issued to protect lives.
• Returning before it is safe may expose you to hazards (downed power lines, structural damage, etc.) and limited resources (no electricity or water).
• Returning too early may also prevent first responders, utility crews and others from doing their jobs.
• Orderly, phased re-entry allows officials to assess the situation, manage traffic flow and ensure enough resources are available.

Pay close attention to official communication channels for instructions and guidance on when it’s safe to return home

Unfortunately, disasters often bring out people looking to take advantage of people who are already vulnerable. There are some signs to watch out for when dealing with someone not within a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) that claims to work for FEMA.  

If you doubt a FEMA phone representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to report the incident.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you receive messages from anyone claiming to be a government agent or if you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam.

Also contact the FEMA Investigations and Inspections Division to file a report by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov..

In addition, contact the Department of Justice’s Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Look at the Fraud area of FEMA’s site for more on what you can do if you suspect fraud.

Scammers will often contact survivors claiming to be FEMA employees.  They might get in touch by phone, email, postal mail, text, or social media.

Our staff will never solicit your sensitive personal information via phone calls, texts or social media. Inspectors will require identification verification, but never sensitive personal information.

Do not click on links in emails from people that you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites. For reliable information, visit government websites directly in your internet browser.

The government will only contact you about financial matters through letters.  No government agency will contact you by phone call, text or through social media about owing money or receiving payments. If you doubt a FEMA phone representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to report the incident.